Parliament Palace (formerly The People’s Palace)

A sight which truly has to be seen to be believed, the Palace is one of the city’s most interesting and bizarre sights. Started by the Communist Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in the 1980s, at 3.76 million square feet this is the second largest building in the world, after the Pentagon in the USA. It’s not a building you can agree to meet someone outside, as it takes at least half an hour to walk round it, and now lays largely unused because of the immense expense it costs to heat and light the many rooms. It does manage to house the Romanian Parliament and a National Museum for Modern Art however, and so tourists can enter in amongst its vast space in certain sections.

As well as being a place of immense interest for the visitor, it also is a reminder to many of the suffering which took place under the dictatorship, because whilst this extravagant and immense building (ironically “for the people”) was being constructed people died in poverty around it. 20,000 workers and 700 architects worked on the 12 stories, 1,100 rooms, four underground levels and the gigantic nuclear bunker.

Arcul de Triumf (Triumphal Arch)

Built in 1935 and modelled on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, this arch is another one of Bucharest’s better known land marks. It was originally built in wood in 1921 to honour the Romanian troops who dies during World War One, before being replaced with the granite version in the 1930s. The outside is adorned with designs from Romanian artists such as Constantin Baraschi, Ion Jalea and Constantin Medrea. It is possible to clime the 85 feet of the arch internally via a staircase; from atop the construction it is possible to get beautiful views out across the city.

Calea Victoriei (Victory Avenue)

This avenue is the city’s oldest street (it was built in 1692) and was given its current name after the Romanian War of Independence in 1878. As well as being of great historical interest the street is also extremely fashionable. Consequently some of Bucharest’s most stunning buildings can be found in the area around the street including Revolution Square, the Military Club, the Palace of the Savings Bank, the National History Museum and the Cantacuzino Palace.

Cantacuzino Palace

Mr Grigore Cantacuzino was Prime Minister of Romania and one of the country’s wealthiest citizens at the end of the 19th Centenary. He claimed he wanted to build for himself the most beautiful and elegant residence in Bucharest. For this is employed the services of architect Ion Berindei, and the residence was built in French style from 1898 until 1900. Today the neoclassical architectural style with art nouveau elements houses the George Enescu Museum.

Revolution Square

The square is lined with stunning buildings including the National Art Museum, Romanian Athenaeum, Athenee Palace Hotel and the Kretzulescu Church. However it is probably best known to people outside Romania after images of it were broadcast around the world during the final dramatic moments of Nicolae Ceausescu’s dictatorship. It was here on December 21st that he stared dumbstruck on the balcony of the former Communist Headquarters as angry crowds gathered in the square before fleeing the city in his now famous white helicopter.

The Romanian Athenaeum

Apart from the stunning architecture of the Frenchmen Albert Galleron, the building is also interesting because it was financed almost entirely by public donations: once the original patrons ran out of funds, the project was saved with a widespread “Give a Penny for the Athenaeum” campaign. Highlights include a lobby painted and decorated in gold leaf, a ring of pink marble columns linked with flowing arches and a number of frescos covering the ceilings and walls. It is renowned for its outstanding acoustics and thus serves as Bucharest’s most prestigious concert hall and home of the Romanian George Enescu Philharmonic.

The Military Club

Built in 1912 to serve the cultural, social and educational needs of the Romanian army, the building has been described as the neoclassical masterpiece by Dimitrie Maimaroiu. The building is still used for training classrooms, banquets and official events and consequently much of the building is off limit to civilians. However the restaurant and summer terrace are available to visit.

The Palace of the Savings Bank

Any tour of the city’s architectural highlights would not be complete without a visit to Palace of the Savings Bank. Of especial interest is the impressive arch at the entrance with its breathtaking Corinthian columns. Once inside one can witness the large central dome, covered in glass separated by metallic ribs, offering generous amounts of natural light to flood the interior. The structure was designed by French architect Paul Gottereanu, an individual who designed more than 50 buildings in the city from 1875 to 1900.

The Metropolitan Church

As well as visiting the outstanding bell tower at the entrance to the church (built in 1698), visitors can also feel what it is like to be at the centre of Romanian Orthodoxism. The seat of the church since 1925, but an integral part since its inception in 1658, the Metropolitan Church rests atop one of Bucharest’s few hills. Here, especially at big festivals such as Easter, massive crowds gather ere to worship and celebrate.

University Square

This is one of the busiest parts of the city. At any part of the day, the streets are buzzing with hoards of Bucharesters, whether on foot in vehicles. In the middle of the square there are 10 stone crosses which remember those who lost their lives in revolution of 1989. The University buildings offer some visual treats, as well giving a reminder of that Bucharest as been a hub of higher education since 1864. It was founded by Alexandru Ioan Cuza, at the time the ruler of the newly formed provinces of Walachia and Moldova. The students rushing between buildings and the book sellers, who line the streets between them, add even further to the lively atmosphere in the area.